The following is a translation of 'a telegram, sent by President Hsu Shih-chang to the provinces, which appeared in Monday's issue of ithe "Sinwanpao"
The Parliament is one of the three powers of the country (the President and the Cabinet being the other two). The time for the third Parliamentary elections has passed, and although we have on several occasions ordered the carry-ling out of these, they have not taken place up to the present. There is, therefore, no legal body ito control the acts of the Cabinet, iand matters have been greatly delayed. Legal questions remain undetermined. The fundamental laws of the nation are not settled: they are still uncertain. More than {100 Governmental matters are set-tied and make no sign of progress. they are not matters of a petty nature, they are important. The hope of the Great President is that there may be fundamental plans for the reconstruction and progress jor the country.
The term of office of the Great President is limited to five years. The present incumbent in office has served for more tham three years and there remains about another 18 months when the office will once where exchange transactions assume! more be vacant. Time cannot be an appearance all of their own. delayed. According to the law the We have the authority of Messrs. present Great President must retire Samuel Montagu & Co.'s annual {from office and cannot serve fur-report on gold and silver for this ther. opinion, for there a quotation is If the Parliamentary elections made from a report by the Hausa jate hurried, there still is time to Association's expedition which ex-elect a successor. If delayed, no plains the system in vogue. For thing can be done. ordinary business in that part of National matters of the present the world cowrie shells are the}day are important and heavy, and usual currency, but they are incon- very soon there will be nobody to venient to carry about, and so when jaccopt responsibility for them if large transactions take place an/nothing is done. The Great Presi-additional medium is requisite. So, dent feels the heavy responsibility far as we can see no quotations! placed on his shoulders and now are given by the Soudan Brokers' desires to have a rest. He will not Association for cowrie shells into}act contrary to the law and remain any foreign currency, but there jin office any longer.
Many trou-must be a daily rate for the shells! bles have arisen in the past and the in relation to the most valuable{Great President is very sad as a medium there known, which is the) result thereof. The position of this slave. Messrs. Montagu point out{country among the other nations, that to carry £100 worth of cowrie; we are afraid, is shaking, and the shells a distance of 100 yards would' situation is very dangerous.
Wa require the services of 300 men, and|dare not think of these questions the cost of porterage over 300 miles; any more. Every time we think of would eat up the whole sum. Ac-! them we tremble. cordingly slaves are used to pay The Great President hopes that a where larger sums are needed. 1tj successor will be elected in accord-is a barbarous business, but to the, ance with the laws and maintain many people in Shanghai who grow/the situation so that the position rich by dealings in exchange it!of the country will not be a shaky must be of interest to know the!one and in order that progress ramifications of their calling.; may be made in the future. This is our big hope over and over again, Asovr 100 men ate arriving on} Wo are moking this statement the Blue Funnel str. Rhesus from; with the hope that everybody may England as half crew relief for, understand. All our colleagues in the British Navy Yangtze flotilla. government service, whether civil
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.